Workshop Centre d'Excellence Horticulture

There are different reasons why the Moroccan greenhouse sector wants to improve its production. Climate change and, in particular, shortage of good quality water require sustainable (greenhouse) production methods. Higher productivity will be necessary to maintain and improve competitive advantage. Increasing competition from neighbouring countries within the same climatic area will also put pressure on the Moroccan greenhouse production sector.

The workshop will investigate the idea of a horticultural centre of excellence for greenhouse facilities in Morocco and discuss it further with Moroccan parties. The workshop will mount discussion and disseminate knowledge amongst the Moroccan public and private stakeholders about the possibilities to adopt more advanced technologies in Moroccan production facilities in horticulture and will lead to a realistic business plan.

The workshop will involve active participation from both the public and private sectors on the Moroccan side. The Moroccan parties represented in the workshop are:

• Professional organization of fruits and vegetables producers (APEFEL);
• Moroccan companies and individual farmers;
• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries;
• Agronomic Institute Hassan II or the Horticulture Center of Agadir;
• National office of agricultural counselling (ONCA).